Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Charges Filed In Fatal Crash That Killed 3 Year Old Child


Charges Filed in October ’08 Fatal Crash that Killed 3 Year old Child

Released Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Seaford – The Delaware State Police have arrested Marcella L. Nichols, 45 of Seaford, for one count of Death by Motor Vehicle (traffic offense) for her involvement in the October 18 fatal crash that killed Alexis Downes, 3 of Laurel. Ms. Nichols was arrested yesterday and released on a $50.00 unsecured bond.

Investigators previously arrested Lacey I. Rash on March 6, 2009 for a single count of a child restraint violation. She was released on her own recognizance.

###

Fatal Car Crash Claims the Life of a 3-Year-Old Child

Released- Sunday, October 19, 2008

Seaford- On Saturday, October 18th, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Troopers were called to the area of Route 13 southbound at Bethel Concord Road (in the vicinity of the Frederick Ford Dealership) for the report of a fatal crash

A 2004 Oldsmobile Alero (operated by Marcella Nichols, 45, of Seaford) was westbound from Bethel Concord Road (east side of US 13) crossing over southbound US 13 traveling towards westbound O’Neal’s Road (west side of US 13). The east and westbound crossover of US 13 is controlled by a yield sign.

A 1996 Chrysler Sebring (operated by Lacey Rash, 22, of Laurel) was southbound on US 13 in the right lane approaching the above listed crossover area.

The Alero failed to yield right of way and pulled into the path of the Sebring resulting in the impact. After colliding, both vehicles came to a stop off of the roadway to the south of O’Neal’s Road and west of US 13.

A 3-year-old female child was ejected from the Sebring during the collision and was pronounced deceased at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital from injuries related to the crash. She was positioned in the left rear seat and her seatbelt use is unknown.

Oldsmobile:
Operator: Marcella Nichols of Seaford DE, treated and released at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital for contusions.
Right front passenger-1 Joy Mann, 27, of Seaford DE, treated and released at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital for contusions.

Sebring:
Operator: Lacey Rash of Laurel was treated and released at PRMC for contusions.
Right front passenger-1 Gail Rash, 45, of Laurel was treated and released at PRMC for contusions and facial lacerations.
Rear center passenger Candence James, 3, of Laurel DE treated and released at PRMC for contusions.
Right rear passenger Dakota Meyers, 1, of Laurel DE, treated and released at PRMC for contusions.

This crash remains under investigation. The seatbelt use of all of the involved juveniles is still being determined. No charges have been filed.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

$50.00 unsecured bond????????

mommaneedswine said...

Both drivers should be charged in the death of the 3 yo. She was not properly restrained in a child safety seat, per laws in both Maryland and Delaware. I fail to see how the driver of the Sebring is at greater fault than the driver who was transporting the 3 yo.

Anonymous said...

The problem here is this forces developers to annex in the city of Salisbury which allows for much higher density to the overcrowed city. There will be numerous apartments and townhomes in the works allowing the developers to continue to be millionaires. Who pays for this and who suffers? The current homeowners and tax payers! Who pays for the infrastructure? Not the developers! Where are the new police officers and protection for the renters of these new apartments? Where are the new firefighters and paramedics coming from? Who is going to pay for the new roads? Who is going to pay for the existing roads already torn up? Do the idiots on the County Council know that development in the city of Salisbury creates wear and tear on the County roads? Do they know that this increases capacity at the County schools? Who pays for the water and sewer? Who is going to compensate the farmers for their "401K?" This land is the farmers only retirement plan!!!

No Bubba Groaf doesn't pay for Groaf!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Mommaneedswine! She prob wouldn't had died if she was in a carseat..I don't see the child being ejected from the car if she was restrained in a carseat like the law says!! How is it unknown if they were wearing seatbelts? If you didn't see 3 carseats in the backseat than they were not in correct seatbelts.

Anonymous said...

3 yr olds can unbuckle themselves..the other 2 children seemed to get thru the crash ok, so someone must of buckled them in. My condolences to the families of the 3 yr old, this was an accident. The Alero is more at fault for failing to yield and just waiting to proceed. Everyone's in a hurry. If you're ever in a rush behind a slow Expedition, remember I'm driving in order to get there alive. ANYmouse

Anonymous said...

and correction, the driver of the car that the little girl was in, (the mother) was not charged with nothing. that was a lie. and the woman of the other car, who is still bothered by the accident. is not a bad person. i have little kids and there is no way, if she was properly in a seat that she would have went through the front window, if she was behind the driver in the back. hello?

Anonymous said...

We all make mistakes. The mother of this child is devastaded. This is a terrible way to learn. She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. May god
bless her and show her the way to protect her children that she has left.